Kiwanians to lead QW Strong Kids Campaign

BRUCE BELL
The Kiwanis Club of Trenton has taken the lead for the 2019 Quinte West YMCA Strong Kids Camaign. Pictured is Kiwanis Club president Greg Parker (left) receiving a Strong Kids tee shirt from outgoing and 2018 Campaign chairman Michael Kotsovos at the campaign launch Sunday morning.jpg, BI

QUINTE WEST — For the first time in its 10-year history, the Quinte West YMCA Strong Kids Campaign will be led by a local service club.

With lawyer Greg Parker in the lead, the Trenton Kiwanis Club is front and centre as the YMCA launched its campaign Sunday and tasked the organization with raising $100,000 for its Strong Kids program.

Parker, the current president of the Kiwanis Club, was on hand to accept the reigns from 2018 chairman Michael Kotsovos and announced the club would help kick-start the effort with a $5,000 donation.

“On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Trenton, I am proud and privileged to announce our commitment to act as the chair for the Quinte West YMCA Strong Kids Campaign this year,” he said. “We’re excited to work with (YMCA of Central East Ontario president and CEO) Dave Allen and (general manager) Ron Riddell and many of the many returning committee members.

“The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign directly aligns with the core values of the Kiwanis Club, which is to improve the world one community and one child at a time. Strong Kids provides many families and youth with access to the excellent health and educational programs the YMCA offers that they otherwise would not benefit from.”

Parker said the Kiwanis Club was planning a number of events to help boost the campaign and would also be making a donation from its annual golf tournament.

Allen presented Parker with a cheque for $17,300, funds raised by donations from the YMCA Eastern Branch board of directors to be split between the campaigns in Quinte West, Belleville and Peterborough.

Attendees at Sunday’s launch heard a number of inspirational stories from people utilizing the Quinte West YMCA.

Youth member Rebecca Clemens told the crowd why she liked attending the YMCA while Mikayla Williams explained how she is benefiting from the Leader in Training Program at the facility.

Danni Edwards, a Grade 12 student, told the crowd her 10 months of working at the YMCA has done more to prepare her for post-secondary studies than any of her previous jobs.

Jamie Mitchel, a military wife and mother of two young boys, said the facility has been instrumental in providing the family with stability and regiment while her husband is away.

Ozzie Bell has been a member since the facility opened almost a decade ago and said he loves spending time with his two grandchildren in the pool.

BRUCE BELLYMCA of Central East Ontario president and CEO Dave Allen (left) presents Kiwanis Club of Trenton president Greg Parker with a cheque from the YMCA board of directors for the Strong Kids Campaign. The Kiwanis Club will lead this year’s campaign in an effort to raise $100,000 for Strong Kids.jpg, BI

Allen said hundreds of local children benefit from the funds raised during the campaign.

“We’ve heard some incredible stories this morning about the impact the YMCA has on the lives of our youth and that is what Strong Kids is all about,” he said. “We have a lot of young staff here and it’s so wonderful to hear someone say it’s the best job they’ve ever had.

“Going back to having a higher purpose – when people come in they may see a pool, but we see something different. We see the opportunity to teach a child lifesaving skills. We see an opportunity to teach a child around our core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and inclusiveness. No child should ever be denied this opportunity because of money.”

Riddell announced staff at the YMCA was committed to reach its $8,000 fundraising goal for the campaign.